Cable connecter



oct, 4,1927. l 115411,30?.

J. C. LEDBETTER CABLE CONNECTER Filed July 1, 1925 /7 f /e i M44* @F Q Hg 5 INVENTOR y lBY @gig/MyPW Y ToRNEYs Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED sTArEsMPATENT oF-FICE.

` 'JAMES cannon LEDB'ETTER, or NEW Yoan, N. Y., Assreivo'n 'ro frnEv/'r'onns' a Y BETrs co., or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, a CoRroRA'rIoN' or NEW JERSEY.

CABLE CONNECTER.

Application led July 1,

This invention relates to cable conne'cters and more particularly to an improved type of wholly one-piece cable connecter which lis stamped from a single sheet of metaland fashioned into a tubular split sleeveformed integrally on a. full-fashionedcomplete circular wire bushing. ,v

, .Among the objects of this invention, one purpose is to produce a connecter which has a full unsplit bushing combinedwith a split sleeve and combined with an improved bearing clampplate to protect the cable from being crushed or damaged by a clamp screw.

A further object of the invention is to improve a cable connecter in respect to the cable clamp means, and to this end the invention, amongother things, embodies a flexible bearing plate free at one end and integral at the other end with the sheet metal connecter.

`The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred forms of the 1 connecter structure wherein: f y

Figure 1 shows a box, a cable, and a connecter assembly in longitudinal section.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the connecter removed from the box.

Figures 3 and l show front 'and rear end 1 elevations of the connecter.

Figure 5 illustrates alongitudinal sectional view ofthe connecter' after thestamping is fashioned into a connecter sleeve. y

`Figure 6 illustrates the llat `'sh-eet metal blank before it is fashioned and drawn into sleeve form; and Figure 7 showsthe stamping subject. tothe lirst operation whereby it isv Jfashioned into-two sleeve sections; and Figure 8 shows an end view of Figure 7. Figure 9 illustrates av top view of the connecter in ycomplete form. l

Figure 10 shows the connecter with cable gripping rib` removed therefrom4 showing how the rim or edge of the box hole directly 'engages the cable to cooperate with the clamp screwto secure a cable in the boxas well as 1n the' connecter.

Electrical installation 'worl'frequires thatl 'the armor or tubular wall G of electrical cable carrying wires W musty be securely fixed the cableY opening or hol-e H ofan ontletror junction ,box Band it is'desirable that connecters for this purposebe inexpensive to'v manufacture and positive in their operation and to these ends, this invention is' addressed. f

1925. serial no'. 40,749.V

`otherv suitable'metal and comprising rec- ,.tangular shaped sleeve sheetsleeve forming plate parts 1() andL 11 which are provided with suitable connecter and .box anchorage means for securing itself, the connecter, yin a box and to this end box wall entrantslots 12 are punched therein, 'although lother, forms of box holeedge anchorage means may be used. The flat sheet sleeve Aparts 10 and 11 are integrally stampedon a full circular type uncut ring' bushing 13'. This ring 13 is formed between the two rectangular sleeve parts 10 and 11 and holds them together along a bending zone 14'. The ytwo parts 10 and V11 are. adapted to bend at the ring on the rbending Zone or neck 14 thus 4enabling the two sleevesections, after .being fashioned into khalf-'round circular parts, to move or bend ,relativelyv on the ring 13. o .o

The flat stamping alsol carries a, tongue 15 integral therewith which is formed into a bearing clamp plate 15 after it is turned back alongside the sheet part lOwhich arrangement leaves one vend thereof flexibly freehand the other end integrally attached to theV sleeve. This clamp plateA protects the armor wall ofthe cable C from being damaged by a cable clamp screw las will be seen. A screwhole 17 ismade in the stamping to receive a c able clamp screw 2O which is in line'with the clamp plat-e ,15.k

Acable gripping rib or-jaw 16 is integrally formedr in the stamping at one, end

thereof so that the cable C rests directly against the rib or jaw 16 at the point of entry into the sleeve. .This jaw aids greatly in securing the cable in the connecter.

i By reference to Figures 7 and Sis observed necter member 10-11. .Y

The connecter' 1s installed' in the; box as shown in Figure by first inserting the tubular VVsleevefpart 10e-11 in ythe Y'box holemH wh'ereujjgion` the cable` armor C is `thrust through the box holeand the screvvf2`0 is 10 and 11. lThis mode of operation causes the cable to be not only gripped by the i turned up or struck-up jaw 16 but the cable is gripped by the clamp plate 15 as well thereby securely fastening the cable in the connecter sleeve. Both functions are simultaneously executed by the screw operating means at one and the same operation thereby securing the cable C in the connecter and the connecter in the sleeve as well.

In Figure 10, the connecter is shown made without the jaw rib 16 heretofore described and in such case the rim H of the box hole edge is forced far enough into the connecter sleeve 25 through the wall entrant slot 211 thereof as will forcibly engage and pinch the rim of the box hole H against the cable C. Operating means such as a screw 26 is carried in the sleeve section 27 and bears the clamp plate 28 down with great force onto vthe cable C there-by expanding the split connecter sections 25 and 27 in the box hole H simultaneously with the clamping of the cable by the bearing clamp plate 28 and by the rim H of the box hole.

While box wall entrantslots 12 are shown cut into the connecter sleeve by which it secures a firm hold on the box, it is to be understood that other anchorage means may be used for this purpose, as for example a groove or the like in the sleeve will suffice.

The full fashioned bushing ring 18 is integrally formed on either one or both of the sleeve part-s, between thetwo parts in this disclosure, in order that one or both of the sleeves may readily bend and move relatively thereto when assembling the connecter in service position.

A connecter of this type has the advantage of a full fashioned, uncut, circular bushing to protect the insulation on the wires when Idrawn through the connect-er, is very simple in design, comprises a one-piece structure only, and employs a single clamp screw operating means by which the cable is secured in the connecter and by which the connecter is anchored in a box hole all in the. same and one operation.

The connecter thus includes a full fashioned bushing at one end and a lcable clamp plate at the other end, all parts being unitary in construction. rEhe cable C within the connecter may be gripped between the conllter jaw 16 and operative clamp means yof metal integrally formed with and turned back alongside the member and bendable thereon, operating means to force the clamp plate against a cable to grip the cable between the clamp plate and the member, and box hole anchorage means included on the member rendered effective by the operating means by which the connecter is fixed in a box hole. y

2. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box hole comprising, a sleeve adapted lto be inserted ina box hole and embrace a. cable received thereinto, a bearing clamp plate comprising a strip, of metal in'- tegrally formed with and turned back alongside the sleeve and bendable thereon, a screw threaded through the sleeve adapted to bear the clamp plate against a cable to grip the cable between the clamp plate and the sleeve, and box, hole anchorage means rendered elfective by the screw by which the connecter is fixed in a box hole.

.3. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in abox hole comprising, a member adapted to be inserted in a box hole and embrace a cable received into said box hole, a bearing clamp plate comprising a narrow strip of met-al integrally formed with and turned back alongside the member and bendable thereon, operating means adapted to bear the clamp plate against a cable to grip the cable between the clamp plate and `the member, anchorage means cooperating with the operating means by which the connecter is fixed in a box hole, and a struck-up jaw part formed on the member adapte-d to bite into the cable cooperating with the aforesaid clamp plate to fix the cable within thee-onnecter. l

Ll. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box holecomprising, a member including an expanding end adapted to fit into a box hole and embrace a cable therein received, expanding connecter anchorage means carried with the member by which it is anchored in a box hole, a jaw included on the expanding end of the member` against which the cable lies, and ascrew threaded through the member adapted to bearY the cable against the jaw and. expand the connecter to .render eective the anchorage means. Y I 1 5' Cabl CQHHQGGI adapted to tatie ia ber hele' comprising, e' men-neerY adapted 'to fit into a box hole and e'nibracea cable threiiirecived, connecter anchorage means carried on the member by which it is fixed in box hole, turned up on one end of the iiie'iiiber against which thewca'ble lis, a Siiv' carried the member adapted to bai the Cable against the aw, and abe'aing clamp plate made bendably integral with the `ieiiiber tufiedfbc'k aloi'ig's'idethe inembe'r aiidjdisposed between a cable and the screw. Y Y

6. A cable connecter adapted to ranchor cable in a box hole connrising", a flat sheet mtal one piece stam'pingy embodying,a central ring which isfasliioned into a ,cable step aaa wire bashing, a number ef reet'guia-r Sheet parte integral with theeea t'ial ring and which are fashioned intotsleeve sections, connecter afiho'r'ag'e nia'ns formed inte the platee bywhieh theA sleeve sections aieadapted to befixed in a box hole, and a screw mounted in one of the `'slee/ve sections and acting to secure a cable in the connecter and simultaneously operate the aforesaid anchorage means to anchor the sleeve in a box hole.` f y 7. A cable connecter as defined by claim 6 further characterized by a bearing clamp plate forming part of the aforesaid stamping and made on one of the sheet parts, said clamp plate bent back alongside the sleeve setions and disposed between the screw and ca le.

8. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box hole comprising, a flat sheet metal one piece stamping embodying, a central ring which is fashioned into a cable stop and wire bushing, a number of rectangular sheet parts integral with the central ring and which are vfashioned into sleeve sections, box wall entrant slots punched in the sheet parts at the ends thereof furthest from the centra-l ringand adapted to embrace the rim of a box Ahole to anchor the connecter and cable in said box, and a screw mounted in one of the sleeve sections adapted to apply pressure on a cable and expand the wall entrant slots outwardly over the rim of a box hole.

9. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box hole co1nprisinga fiat sheet metal one piece stamping embodying, a central ring which is `fashioned into a cable stop and wlre bushing, two rectangular sheet parts integral with the central ring and which are fashioned into sleeve sections, box wall entrant slots punched in the sheet parts at the ends thereof furthest from the central ring and adapted to embrace the rim of a box hole to anchor the connecter and cable in said box, a screw mounted in one of the sleeve sections adapted to apply pressure on a cable and expand the wall entrant slots outwardly over the rim of a box hole, and a parts at the ends 'thereof furthest from the central .ring and adapted to embrace the rim e of a box hole to anchor the cable in said box,

al screw mounted in one of `the sleeve sec- Y tions adapted to apply ,pressureon a cable aina expand the', weil entrant slots' eutwardly over the rim of a box hole, a jaw turned up on the` end of oneI of the sleeve sections adapted ,to rest against the cable 'and' thus cooperate with the screwtor fasten the "cable in the connecter, and a bearing clamp plate integral with one lof the sleeve sections and' turned back on ythe insidethereof between the s'c'rew and Cable and being ,flexible at one end to move under pressure of the screw.

11. A cable connecter adapted te* ancho-1- itself in a box hole and secure cable in itself comprising, a sheet-metal stamping embodye ing rectangular sheet parts provided with wall entrant slots therein punched, a full circular cable stop and bushing ring integrally formed with the aforesaid sheet parts,

ysaid sheet parts fashioned into a split sleeve lil() integrally formed on the aforesaid full circular bushing ring and expansibly movable in relation to the bushing ring by reason of the s plit` construction to cause the wall` entrant slots topass over the rim of the box hole thereby bringing said box hole rlm into engagement with the cable, a iiexible bearing clamp plate integrally formed on one of the split sleeve sheet parts and flexibly disposed alongside the cable,fand a screw carried by one of the sleeve partsbearing against the clamp plate serving` to force the cable against the rim of the box hole Aand serving to simultaneously expand the split sleeve aforesaid.

12. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box hole comprising, a'flat sheet metal one-piece stamping embodying; a ring which is fashioned into a one piece full circular bushing, a rectangular sheet sleeve part integral with K the ring bushing and fashioned into a circular part to embrace a. cable, connecter anchorage means carried by the sleeve to secure it in a box hole, and operating means carried with the connecter to fix cable in the sleeve.

13. A cable connecter adapted to anchor cable in a box hole comprising, a pair of integrally stamped one piece Hat sheet metalv v parts which arefashioned into a split cable receiving sleeve, fa circular stamped piece disposed in between and integral with the aforesaid pair of sheet parts and forming one end of the connecter, connecter anchorage means formed on the sleeve, said split cable receiving sleeve adapted to'have its ends opposite to the circular piece expand to render operative the aforesaid anchorage means, and a screw carried in the connecter to fix a cable in the sleeve.

14. A connecter comprising7 a member adapted to be inserted in a box hole, anchorage means carried With the member to engage the edge of a box hole and thus anchor the member to the box, a bearing clamp plate consistingy of a strip of metal integrally formed with and turned back alongside the member and bendable thereon and adapted to extend through the box hole, and operatingmeans carried by the member to force the clamp plate against a cable to grip said cable against the box hole edge and reacting to render effective the anchorage means by engaging the latter against the box hole edge.

l5. A connecter comprising, a member adapted to fit into a box hole and including anchorage means to engage the box hole edge and thereby secure the connecter to a box, a

bushing ring carried at one end of the member, a bearing clamp plate consisting of a strip of metal carried on the other end of the member and flexible thereon and adapted to extend through a box hole toward the busliing ring, and operating means carried on the member to force the clamp plate against a cable and reacting to render effective the anchorage means.

16. A connecter comprising; a connecter member fashioned from sheet metal and including, a bushing ring, plates integral with the bushing ring and disposedinvseparated relationby said ring which is thereby placed between' the' plates7 said plates being bent at the bushing to place the latter at one end of the connecter member,v While the other ends of the plates are movably free, and box hole edge anchoragev means carried With and proximate the free ends ofthe plates; and operating means to grip a cable in the connecter member and reacting to expand the free ends of the plates to render effective the anchorage means to secure the connecter to a box.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES CAMROD LEDBETTER. 

